This weeks chapel speaker was Rodney Baker, Pastor of Hopeful Baptist Church in Lake City, Florida. Pastor Baker expounded on Acts 8:26-40. He posed two questions: 1. Did you ask the Holy Spirit to fill you this morning? 2. Did you ask God to bring a lost person across your path this morning? He encouraged students to do the following:

Be sensitive to the spirit

Proceed tactfully

Share the scriptures

Present Jesus

Follow through to completion

His compelling message encouraged students to witness to the people in their life in a fearless way. He shared that if we are filled with the spirit, we won’t be afraid to share Christ with others and we will be glad we did.

Mr. Bill Britt Evangelist with Compel Outreach International in Gallatin, Tennessee spoke in chapel on Thursday. During this service, seven Truett-McConnell students came to know the Lord. He gave a powerful message about the importance of making Jesus Christ number one in our lives. He gave four points that were important to remember when living for Jesus:

Worship Jesus Christ no matter the cost

Work for Jesus

Be a Warrior for Jesus

Be a Witness for Jesus

He encouraged students to not be intimidated by the culture of today but to give their all to make Jesus Christ known to others.

Dr. Bryant Wright, Pastor of Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in Marietta, Georgia spoke in chapel. His message was entitled “The Ultimate Soul Food.” He expounded on John 4: 27-34 as he described how Jesus broke the taboos of his day and that he lived in a way in order to bring others to himself. He encouraged Christians to seek to have an interest in others interest in order to bring them to Christ. Dr. Wright stated that the harvest of souls is “The Ultimate Soul Food.”

TMC President, Dr. Emir Caner spoke on Matthew 28:18-20 which states who we are supposed to be as Christians. Dr. Caner stressed the importance of who God has called us to be as Christians and that we should be faithful to the calling. He expressed that every person, saved by the blood of Jesus Christ, has a call on his or her life to fulfill the Great Commission. He declared that all Christians are called to be worldwide missionaries, and in the midst of persecution, we are to be faithful and continue to trust in the Lord. Dr. Caner testified that evangelism is a lifestyle and that we should have a passionate urgency to share Christ with the lost. He stated that all Christians must be involved in a local body of believers and that our purpose as Christians should be to grow and make disciples of others.

Dr. Richard Land was the guest speaker at chapel. He spoke on the topic of religious liberty. He gave a historical review of what it means to have our religious freedom as Christians. He defined religious liberty as “the freedom to worship as you please according to the dictates of your own conscience, working out your own relationship with God, without any cohesive interference from the state, and no civil penalties for religious infractions. He stated that the Baptist way of religious liberty, gradually triumphed in the Constitution of the United States. He charged Christians with the thought that we must be salt and light on this earth and that since we have the freedom to do so, we are held accountable when we don’t.

Dr. Steven Smith, the Dean at the College of Southwestern and Professor of Communication spoke at chapel on Thursday morning. Dr. Smith cited Revelation 19:11. In this verse, God throws the doors of heaven open for us to see a vision of who Christ is. In this passage, Christ is visualized as the “Warrior Messiah.” Dr. Smith gave an illustration of the Jesus Christ that we as American’s see in our mind’s eye when we think of our Savior and explained that we should see Christ as the strong Warrior Messiah.” This compelling message gives Christians insight to who Christ really is and presents Christians with a reason to look forward to the day Christ comes.

Dr. Tom Smiley, the Pastor at Lakewood Baptist Church in Gainesville, Georgia spoke at chapel. He asked students if they remembered the first time that they ever tried to fool someone. He expounded on Acts 8 and stated that there are times when we try to present an image of ourselves that is not so. He acknowledged the importance of our hearts and our genuine concern for others. Dr. Smiley asked students the question, “How can you help someone?” and responded with the answer that we can help others by living a life of transformation and letting people see Christ through our attitudes, actions, and hearts.

Mr. Richard Headrick, owner of Headrick Company in Laurel, Mississippi was the chapel speaker. He posed the question, “Who wants to be successful?” He stated that there are two ways to become successful, either with God or without God. He urged all students to first and foremost strive to become a great man or woman for God. Mr. Headrick offered 10 tips on how to be successful which are as follows:

Dr. Paige Patterson, the President of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary spoke at chapel. He expounded on “the most important verse of scripture,” Genesis 1:1. Dr. Patterson taught that as Christians, it is vital to believe that God created the heavens and the earth first and foremost. He stated that true science and the Bible will never be in contradiction. He spoke on the life of Adam and Eve and their sin which caused them to be ashamed of their nakedness. Dr. Patterson preached an entertaining sermon which appealed to students and faculty.

Dr. Brad Reynolds, is the Vice President for Academic Services at Truett-McConnell College. His messaged addressed the importance of God’s word being the authority for our lives. He expounded scripture from Psalm 23:1 and focused on the need for Christians to not wonder from the flock, but instead to keep God first and foremost in our lives. Dr. Reynolds gave a compelling argument for “6 Theological Dangers” that Christians face.